Emmanuel Adedayo
After eight years of terrorist attack on the United Nations building in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the Federal Government has formally handed over the newly built and furnished building to the United Nations.
The building was attacked in 2011 through a car bomb by Boko Haram terrorists and the Nigerian government made a commitment to rebuild the house.
The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari however made a commitment to protect all UN installations within the country. The commitment was made at the UN Day celebration of the rebuilding of the structure on Thursday 24th October which marked the handing over day and fulfillment of promised made by the Nigerian government to rebuild the facility.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Bello who represented the Nigerian President, promised that the Federal Government will ensure maximum protection of any UN institution within the country.
“The Nigerian government handing over this building to the United Nations is a symbol of our share commitment to continue supporting the people and government of Nigeria, said Mr. Mark Lowcock, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief coordinator who represented the UN Secretary General Anthonio Guterres at the event.
Lowcock added that, “Nigeria has been a key actor since it became a member of the United Nations in 1960, only eight days after its independence,” stating further that, “Today’s reopening of the UN House in Abuja demonstrates our collective commitment to continue addressing the complex challenges facing Nigeria, West Africa and the whole world.”
Meanwhile the resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria on the project. “I know we will together rise to the occasion and leave no one behind as we build that future we want,” Kallon said.
Also at the event the former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Ambassador Joy Ogwu warned against turning from multilateral solutions which she said would be a disaster. “We must without doubt count the enormous contributions of multilateralism in the number of wars not fought, lives not lost, and seemingly lasting peace we enjoy today,” she noted.
A total of 21 people were killed and 60 injured when a suicide car bombing rocked the UN headquarters in Abuja on Friday 26th August 2011 while Boko Haram terrorist group claimed responsibility.
